Automatic Water Softener Ordinance of 2003

On March 27, 2003, an ordinance took effect that prohibits the installation or assisting in the installation of automatic water softeners in the Santa Clarita Valley. The ordinance can be obtained by following the link below.

Effective March 27, 2003, the installation of residential automatic or self-regenerating water softeners, including new and replacement units, was prohibited in the Santa Clarita Valley.

A violation of the ordinance banning the installation of automatic water softeners is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days.

The ordinance applies to residences served by the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (formerly Sanitation Districts Nos. 26 and 32), which includes all areas with sewer service in the Santa Clarita Valley. Communities affected include, but are not limited to: Santa Clarita, Saugus, Valencia, Newhall, Castaic, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bouquet Canyon, Mint Canyon, and Forrest Park.

Residences served by septic tanks instead of sewers are not affected by the ordinance.

The ordinance applies only to the installation of water softeners that use either sodium chloride or potassium chloride to regenerate on site. The ordinance does not apply to water softeners that use exchange tanks that are regenerated off-site. It also does not apply to filtration, activated carbon, reverse osmosis treatment, or no-salt water conditioning units.

The ordinance applies in the same way whether you rent your automatic water softener or own it.

If you wish to treat your water you can use water treatment systems such as activated carbon units, reverse osmosis systems, portable exchange tank softeners, no-salt water conditioning devices, or water filtration systems. Click here for more information.

Santa Clarita businesses have been prohibited from using automatic water softeners since 1961.